an online community of international peacemakers

Shmazi
began when two students from George Mason University's graduate program
in Conflict Analysis & Resolution, Irakli Kakabadze of the
Republic of Georgia and Daniel McFarland of the United States, decided
to explore the use of the arts as a medium for drawing people of different
backgrounds and beliefs closer together. Their theory was that by introducing
the arts, mediums to which all people are drawn and enjoy, those with
conflicting interests and viewpoints could learn to respect and love those
that are different from them.

The
impetus of Shmazi is the Shmazi Performance, which integrates music and
poetry into an interactive community theater. The goal is to empower the
youth culture to reduce violence through positive community building,
using the arts as a medium to overcome cultural borders and restraints.

Shmazi
has since grown to become an international performance phenomenon in which
artists from the world over have contributed via a variety of art forms
- music, dance, theatre, film, poetry and prose. Funds collected during
Shmazi performances are donated to support the arts and/or various
humanitarian causes, including music education.

Shmazi.net
is now the ultimate online artists' community dedicated to the fine art
of peace building!

To
get the most of shmazi, you need to join the Shmazi Community. Join
our mailing list so we can bring you up to the minute news on advances
in education and the arts and the travels and experiences of the the McFarland
Brothers and the Shmazi Band..

And
be sure to join
our e-mail club to find out more about the Musicians' Outreach for
Very Excellent Education, an outreach program in which the Shmazi Band
plays interactively with students in Shmazi Performances, which feature
poetry and philosophy readings set to background music provided by the
Shmazi Band, and conflict resolution seminars provided by Daniel McFarland.
Join
us today and be shmazi, get shmazi!